Socceroos midfielder and PFA Executive Member Jackson Irvine has joined a global campaign through FIFPRO, the world football players’ association, to promote LGBTQIA+ rights in football and asks for clear messages about inclusivity to come out of the World Cup in Qatar. The following excerpt is from FIFPRO.org:
I’d like to talk to you about a subject really close to my heart. I have family and friends who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community – a group of people who, for a long time, have been massively marginalised and discriminated against. I want to speak up for them.
Let’s be clear here: homophobia in football is still a problem. There are a lot of issues facing sport and football in general – and I think any kind of toxic masculine atmosphere, which football unfortunately has sometimes, doesn’t make people from the gay community feel welcome and part of the game.
That has to change – and it has to change now.
We, as players, have a big role to play. Education and making information available to those in football is going to play a massively important part, as is us speaking up.
The full article, including a video with Jackson and information on the #ShineALight campaign can be accessed via FIFPRO, here.
